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unbraided, not in any sort of ponytail. It hung down between his shoulder blades and was cut straight across, blue-black in color.
    But the thing that stoppered the words in Charlie’s mouth happened when he looked up to tell the men to leave him be. He looked right into the man’s eyes and saw one blue and one nearly black. The man stared right back at Charlie for a few seconds, and then Charlie broke eye contact and looked away.
    â€œDon’t pay him no never mind, boy,” said the old man. “Mex ain’t much for talkin’, but he’ll do in a pinch all right.” The old man slapped his leg. “I recall the time we was up to Lodestone. You remember that, Mex? And we skinned all them dandy gamblers? Hoo-wee, you’da thought none of them high rollers had ever seen an Injun before! And for us to throw ’em one with mismatched eyes? Hee-hee!”
    The entire time the old man spoke, Charlie stared at the man’s eyes. Couldn’t help it. They were spooky, like no eyes he’d ever seen. He wanted to get up and away from the man as fast as his legs could carry him. But he was being muckled on to by two men, and as they dragged him upright slowly, sharp pains raked up his sides and made him gasp, and a cold sweat popped out on his forehead.
    â€œEasy, boys. He’s had a time of it.” The old man leaned in. “Boy, you done broke a couple of ribs in all your thrashing and coughing.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with me?” said Charlie after a few minutes once they’d let him be and the wave of hot pains had ebbed.
    â€œI expect it’s pleurisy. Settled right into your lungs and proceeded to march up an’ down, causing holy havoc and leaving a mess of misery behind, like Grant through Richmond.”
    There was a long silence, and then in a wheeze Charlie said, “I thank you, then, for all you’ve done. I expect I can make it all right on my own now. I don’t have much, but you’re welcome to it.”
    The old man sniffed, said, “You travelin’ alone, boy? You don’t mind me asking, how old are you anyway? You seem a bit on the young side, once a fella gets past your size and gets to studying you.”
    Charlie didn’t reply, so the old man kept talking. “You must have been traveling with one big pard, because that rock pile you built is mighty big! I reckon it must have been your twin, what with the size of it and all.”
    Charlie cut his eyes to the man, then looked away again.
    â€œOh, there I go again, stuffing my boot in my mouth. I’ll never learn. Ask the boys. If there’s a wrong thing to be said in any situation, you can bet yourself a good hand that Pap Morton will be the one to say it every time.”
    Charlie smiled weakly, then fell asleep. As he drifted off, he recollected that he couldn’t tell how long it had been since the men found him. Pap had told him a few times, but Charlie still felt confused about the past. He didn’t think it mattered all that much, though. Not much did.
    The first thing Charlie saw when he awoke was that all the men but Pap had begun loading up as if they were ready to head on out. They were nearly finished and making last-minute adjustments, tightening cinches, gulping coffee, and checking buckles, when Charlie yawned and tried to sit up.
    He didn’t say anything and no one spoke to him, though he wanted to know what they were all up to. He figured it was none of his business to pry. He also figured they were headed out and going to leave him there as they had found him. Though he had to admit if that was all they were offering, he was a darn sight better off than when they’d found him. So all in all, he had no right to complain.
    All the men, save for Pap Morton, mounted up. Again, no one paid Charlie any mind, so he kept his peace. But he was powerfully curious as to what they were up to.
    Morton jutted his old bearded chin at Dutchy, the